Rooter attachment for bulldozers



Feb. 4, 1958 c.-D. FORTE 2,821,796

ROUTER ATTACHMENT FOR BULLDQZERS Filed Feb. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FEEEE 552? 4/ 4a is: 3: F/ 6. 6. "g;

INVENTORI v C ARL D. FORTE ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1958 c. D. FORTE ROOTER ATTACHMENT FOR BULLDOZERS 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1955 INVENTOR. CARL D. FOR TE ATTORNEY ROSTER ATTACHNENT FOR BULLDOZERS Carl D. Forte, Los Angeles, Calif.; Helen A. Forte, ad-

ministratrix of said Carl D. Forte, deceased, assignor to said Helen A. Forte Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,463

6 Claims. (Cl. 37-145) My invention relates to rooter attachments for bulldozers, and it has for a purpose the provision of a rooter attachment which is structually characterized by its simplicity, low cost of manufacture, and durability to successfully withstand the rough usage to which it is put; and functionally characterized by the easy mode of adjustment of an adapter to fixedly secure the attachment to and in operative position on the moldboard of a bulldozer to lock it against movement in any direction thereon.

Also a purpose is to provide a rooter attachment embodying a standard on the upper end of which is mounted a bracket carrying the adapter, the bracket being adjustable on the standard and the adapter bodily adjustable on the bracket to the common end of enabling the rooter attachment to be applied to and firmly secured on a moldboard irrespective of the width and inclination of the angle bar on the rear side of the top edge of the moldboard.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of an adapter which includes a member of hook form that is pivoted on the bracket and adjustable by a screw member not only to embrace the moldboard angle bar, but to move the bracket so as to cause the standard to be pulled against the moldboard and to simultaneously elevate the standard on the moldboard in such manner as to bring the saddle of the shank carried by the standard into firm gripping engagement with the blade on the lower edge of the moldboard, and thus to effectively lock the attachment in operative position on the moldboard.

Another purpose is to provide in a rooter attachment a bracket which is mounted on the standard to occupy an inactive position which permits application of the attachment to a moldboard, and an active position in which the adapter can be brought into engagement with the moldboard angle bar and subsequently adjusted to lock the entire attachment in operative position on the moldboard.

I will describe only one form of rooter attachment embodying my invention in its association with one form of bulldozer moldboard, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view showing in end elevation the forward part of a bulldozer and having applied to the moldboard thereof one form of rooter attachment embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rooter attachment with a portion thereof in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the attachment.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the meter attachment of my invention comprises a shank K hav- Inited States Patent C) F 2,821,796 Patented Feb. 4, 1958 ing a fiat portion 14 on the forward edge of which is a front longitudinal flange 15, and on the rear edge of which is a longitudinal rear flange 16. At the lower end of these flanges the shank merges into a transversely widened portion 17 at the rear side thereof which is formed with a longitudinal groove 18 that is V-shaped in cross section and inclined downward and forward as shown in Fig. 2. The portion 17 and the slot 18 coact to provide a saddle T which is adapted for the reception of the blade of the moldboard of a bulldozer, as will be described hereinafter.

As is usual in such rooter attachments, the lower end of the shank K where it depends from the saddle T is exteriorly tapered and interiorly formed with a socket 19 in which the tongue 20 of a digger tooth 21 is received and secured by a pin 22.

The upper portion of the shank K is received in a standard S which is of sleeve form and rectangular in cross section. The shank K is capable of adjustment longitudinally in the standard S and can be secured in any position of adjustment in order that the attachment as a whole can be applied to bulldozer moldboards of various widths or heights. The means for securing the shank K in longitudinally adjusted position comprises, in the present instance, a series of openings 23 formed in registering pairs in the side walls of the standard, a series of recesses 24 in the rear flange 16, and a locking pin 25 which can be extended through any pair of openings to engage within any one recess and thereby secure the shank in any desired longitudinal position of adjustment in the standard.

It will be noted that the recesses 24 are staggered in relation to the openings 23 in order that a fine degree of adjustment of the shank can be attained. As shown in Fig. 3 the pin 25 has a faceted head 26 on one end and a cotter pin 27 extending through the other end which. when removed permits withdrawal of the pin from the standard to be reinserted in another pair of openings 23 or another recess 24 for securing another adjustment of the shank in the standard.

On the upper end of the standard S is mounted a bracket B which is made up of a pair of arms 28 in the form of elongated plates having rounded ends. This bracket is so mounted on the standard that it extends rearwardly thereof at an angle thereto and it is susceptible of angular adjustment with relation to the standard for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The means by which the bracket can be adjusted angularly comprises a pivot pin 29 and a holding pin 30. The pin 29 extends through one end of the arms 28 and through ears 31 formed on the standard S. The pin 29 may be provided at one end with a lock nut 32 to prevent accidentical displacement of the pin from the ears and the arms. The holding pin 30 extends through registering openings in the arms 28, and engages within either of a pair of recesses 33. These recesses are formed in a rearwardly extending portion 34 of a rear wall of the standard S, and they are on diiierent radii with respect to the center of the cars 31 so that accordingly as the holding pin 30 engages within one recess or the other the angular position of the bracket on the standard is varied. The pin 30 may be of the same construction as the pivot pin 29.

For securely clamping the attachment in operative position on the moldboard of a bulldozer, an adapter A is provided which comprises a hook or arcuate member 35 preferably of T-form in cross section and provided at its free end with an arcuate head 36. The other end of the hook is provided with an integral arm or extension v37. At the junction of the arm and hook a bearing sleeve 38 is formed through which extends a pivot pin 39. This pin also extends through the arms 28 and is secured therein by means of a nut 40 and cotter pin 41.

It is by means of this pin 39 that the hook and arm are mounted for pivotal movement between the bracket arms 28 so that it can be moved to that adjusted position about the pin to cause the hook to have clamping engagement with the upper part of a moldboard. The hook can be moved to and secured in the required adjusted position by means of an element E which is adjustable in the free end of the arm 37. This element comprises a screw 42 adjustable in a screw threaded sleeve 43 on the free end of the arm 37. At one end the screw is 1 formed with an integral and faceted head 44, and at the other end with a ball 45 received in a socket 46 of a foot 47 which is preferably fiat.

In Fig. 1 is shown a conventional moldboard M of a {bulldozer, and it is provided at its lower end with a blade D. To the rear side of the moldboard adjacent the upper edge thereof'is' secured an angle bar F and in such manner that one part 48 thereof is inclined downwardly from the upper edge of the moldboard and the other part 49 inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the rear side of the moldboard.

'To fixedly mount the rooter attachment in operative position on the moldboard M, the rooter is first stood upright with the tooth21 partly penetrating the ground and the bracket B intheinactive position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. Movement of the'bracket from the "active position SllOWI1.'il1 solid lines in Fig. 1 to the inactive position is made possible by removal of the hold- "ing' pin thus'allowing the bracket to be swung on the pivot pin 29 to such inactive position.

7 With the attachment 'so positioned the bulldozer is advanced-toward the rooter with the-moldboard lowered to a position such that the blade D can pass'into the "groove 18 of'the saddle T. As the blade passes'into' the "saddle'the rooter is tilted rearwardly to bring'the' standard Sagainstthe moldboard, whereupon the operator swingsthe-bracket from inactive to'active position and secures it in place by inserting the holding pin 30 into "one recess 33 or the other to dispose the adapterA-so that'it can be-moved into clamping engagement with the bar F.

Movement of the adapter to bar clamping position is efiected by swinging the book 35 downwardly about the pivot 39 so that the head 36 is brought'into contact with the part-'49 of the angle bar, and the foot 47-into contact with the upper side ofthe bar part 48. By now feeding the screw '42 downwardly-in the sleeve 43' an upward forceis exerted on thearm 37 to rotate-the hook -35 downwardly and forwardly to bring thehead 36 into "firm engagement with the bar part 49 and thereby firmly clamp the hook tothe bar.

Concurrently with this operation of the adapter the screw 42 functions to exert. anupward pressure on-the bracket to elevate the standard 5 in the shank K and f thereby forcelthe saddle T into firm clamping relation to the blade D. As a consequence the rooter is securely clamped inoperative position. on the moldboard against movement in any direction even when subjected'tothe various forces resultant of use of the rooter by-the bull- 'dozer. Since the groove 18 is of V-form in cross'section it is capable of receiving and by a wedgingactionsecuri'ngthe blade D thereto irrespective of theiangle at which the-blade is mounted on the'moldboard.

It is'desirable that the lower edge of'the bracket B be substantially parallel to the bar part 43 in order that -:the. screw 42 will be positioned substantially perpendicular 'ttosuch' bar part to actuate the adapter and lift the bracket. Since the angle of the bar part 48 may vary on difieremmoldboards. the bracket B can be adjusted on-thestandard S so'that it will occupy aposition parallel to 'the bar part irrespective of its angle -vthrough-. the rnediumi of theholding pin 30 and therecesses 33-as iwill be' understood.

Also to compensate for variation in the width and angle of the bar part 49 on difierent moldboards, so that the adapter may have proper clamping engagement with such part, the arms 28 of the bracket are provided with a series of openings 50 in any pair of which the pivot pin 39 is receivable to afford adjustment of the adapter longitudinally on the bracket.

Although I haveherein shown and described only one form of rooter attachment embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications maybe madettherein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rooter attachment for the moldboard of a bulldozer, including: a tooth-carrying member having a saddle thereon; a bracket mounted on the upper end of said member; and an adapter including a hook having an .arm pivoted ;on the bracket,' and an element adjustable on the arm at that side of the arm pivot opposite from the hook and which is adapted to bear on the upper part of the moldboard so that by adjustment thereof toward said, part the hook is actuated to clamp the latter and the bracket simultaneously lifted to cause the saddle to embrace the lower part of the moldboard.

2. A rooter attachment for the moldboard of a bulldozer, including: a tooth-carrying member having a saddle thereon; a bracket mounted on the upper end of said member; coacting means on the upper end of said member and between the ends of the bracket affording angular adjustment of the latter so that its lower side can be'positioned in' a plane substantially paralleling the upper part of the moldboard; and an adapter-including a hook having an arm pivoted on the bracket, and an element adjustable onthe arm at that side of the arm pivot opposite from the hook and which is adapted to bear on the upper part of the moldboard so that by adjustment thereof toward said part the hook'isactuated to clamp the latter and the bracket simultaneously lifted to cause the saddle'to' embrace the lower part of the moldboard.

3. A rooter attachment for the moldboard of a bulldozer, including: 4 a tooth-carrying member having a saddle thereon; a bracket mounted on the upper end of said=member coacting means on said member and the bracket affording angular adjustment of the latter so that its lower side can be positioned in a plane substantially paralleling the upper part of the moldboard; and adapter including aahook having an arm pivoted on the bracket; and: an element adjustable on the arm at that side of theiarm pivot opposite from the hookand which is adapted to bear on the upper part of the moldboard so-that by adjustment:thereof toward said part the hook is actuated to clamp the latter and the bracket-simultaneously lifted to cause the saddle to embrace the lower part of the moldboard; and coacting means on the bracket and the adapterafio'rding adjustment of the adapter longitudinally on the bracket so that the adapter is applicable to the upper part of moldboards of various sizes.

4. A rooter attachment for the moldboard of a bulldozer, including: a tooth-carrying member having a saddle thereon; a. bracket comprising a. pair of spaced arms at opposite sides of and pivoted at one endon the upper end of said member to occupy an inactive position in which it extends upwardly from said member, and an active position in which it-eXtends'at anangle to the rear of said member; coacting means on said member and the bracket for releasably securing the lat- -ter in active. position; and ant-adapter including a hook having an extension pivoted .on and between the bracket arms at that side of the pivot point of the latter opposite :ifrom'lithe coactingqmeans, and a screw threaded in the extension at that side of its pivot oppositefrom the hook,

azand'i' which when; the .;-bracket: is i l in ,active.- position is adapted-1obear on 'an upper part of a moldboard so that by adjustment thereof toward said part the hook is actuated to clamp the latter and the bracket simultaneously lifted to cause the saddle to embrace the lower part of the moldboard.

5. A rooter attachment as embodied in claim 4 wherein the coacting means is adjustable to secure the bracket at various angles when in active position, and comprises pairs of recesses in the rear portion of said member, and a pin extending through said arms and one pair of recesses.

6. A rooter attachment for a bulldozer moldboard having an angle bar secured to the rear side adjacent the upper edge thereof, and a blade secured on the lower edge thereof, including: a tooth-carrying member having a saddle thereon; a bracket comprising a pair of arms pivoted at one point on the upper end of said member to occupy an inactive position in which it extends upwardly from said member, and an active position in which it extends at an angle to the rear of said member; coacting means on said member and said bracket for releasably securing the latter in a fixed active position; and an adapter including a hook having an extension pivoted on and between the bracket arms, and a screw threaded in the extension at that side of its pivot opposite from the hook, and which is adapted to bear on the upper side of the angle bar so that by adjustment of the screw toward the angle bar the hook is actuated to embrace the lower rear side of the angle bar, and the bracket simultaneously lifted to cause the saddle to embrace the blade of the moldboard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,036,598 Miller et a1. Apr. 7, 1936 2,108,077 Robinson Feb. 15, 1938 2,274,881 Bolston Mar. 3, 1942 2,297,677 Forte Oct. 6, 1942 2,569,843 Adler et a1 Oct. 2, 1951 2,718,075 MacLeod et al Sept. 20, 1955 2,726,463 Rogers Dec. 13, 1955 2,797,505 Rogers July 2, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 500,110 France Dec. 8, 1919 

